Not for the Faint at Heart

It's amazing how body image effects you when you are pregnant. I never thought it would - but it does. When I was pregnant with Grace, I never went swimming. I thought I would. I even bought a two piece suit. But I never got in the water. Not once.

Now pregnant with Charlotte and wanting to encourage Grace to love the water (can also read as wanting to tire Grace out so she'll nap for a significant amount of time each afternoon), I've had to sport a bathing suit on several occasions. I usually choose to cover myself up but since we were in the privacy of our own home, I decided to show a little skin...err... a lot of skin that is. 

Seriously, how can I possibly have 57 days left?

Are your eyes burning yet?

Check out my bebo - I mean belly button. 

If that ain't an indication of how done I am than I don't know what is!

60 Days

In honor of being just 60 days away from #2's debut (and that fact that we just booked an airline ticket in her name so there's definitely no going back now) I'd like to announce that #2 will forever be known as

Charlotte Katherine

Not Char.

Not Charlie.

Not Charlotta or Lottie. 

Charlotte. 

Big Baby on Board

Yesterday, I had my 31 weeks doctor appointment. My doctor walked into the room and before even saying hello asked, "Did you really have a nine pound baby last time?!"

"Uh...yes. 9 lbs. 3 oz. to be exact."

"Hmmm...for some reason I don't remember that..."

"Well, I do!!"

Then he went on to tell me that most people have big babies because they have gestational diabetes. He quickly flipped through his chart because at my last appointment I did all the blood work to see if I was going to be living out the last few weeks of this pregnancy eating only boiled chicken and broccoli.

"Huh." He said dumbfounded. "No gestational diabetes for you. All your blood work looks completely normal." He said this as his eyes lowered and came to a rest on my bulging tummy as if he was completely stumped as to how I could be so big.

To make him feel better, I told him that big babies run in the family. That seemed to snap him out of it.

"Well, you had no problems last time so I don't foresee any this time. What I can tell you is that this baby is going to be big."

As if there were any doubt. Thanks Doc! Tell me something I don't know!

No Fear!

Grace has no fear!

None I tell you!

She is her father's daughter.

They even injure similarly....

Grace's face had a run-in with the patio - even under my close watch.

Court's face had a run-in with...well, that's a story for him to tell!

The Naked Gardner

Move over Jamie Oliver (aka The Naked Chef)...

there's a new naked game in town.

Behold! 

The Naked Gardner!

We're taking this "organic" gardening phenomenon to a whole new level!

She's a wicked weeder...


So much so, the garden is free from all the weeds...and carrots.

Beer, Brats & Blasts!

We're off to a patriotic start...

Flag? Check!

Red, white, and blue outfits? Check!

Not wanting to pose for a photo? Check mate!!!

Hope you are as a well-stocked as we are when it comes to

beer, brats and blasts... (completely 'legal' fireworks that is)!

Happy 4th of July!

Fence

Has anyone seen all the scary statistics on the news lately regarding drownings? Apparently, 700 drownings have occurred across the US since Memorial Day. (Ok don't quote me on that but it is some super scary number nonetheless.)

So we put in a fence around our pool this past week.

Before

After

As you can see, the pool is still not open. Fingers are crossed that she'll be ready to go next week! We could also use some finger crossing in the weather department. So far, there has only been about two days worthy of sporting an unflattering bathing suit, sloppin' on the sunscreen and tiptoeing into the frigid water. (Well, in our case, cannon balling into the frigid water...haven't I told you? We have no stairs in our pool! It's all or nothing baby!)

A Cup of Joe....PUH-LEASE!

Last week, our faithful coffeemaker passed away. It was a sad, sad day. No morning jolt of caffeine to wake us up and start the day. Our only jolt would be Grace - awake far too early and jumping (of course) in her crib. Why sleep when you can jump, right?

Well, that was last week and we still have no coffeemaker. (Yeah, if I've seem a bit disheveled lately or a bit 'Night-of-the-Living-Deadish' - now you know why.)

Oh don't blame me! It wasn't like I hopped on the internet, researched the hell out of coffeemakers, read 100s of reviews and found the ONE machine EVERYONE seems to love at a far cheaper price than the competition, and order it the very next day only to have it arrive DEFECTIVE!!!

What?!? Are you kidding me? This calls for a letter - you know one of 'those' letters you always swear you will write when you've been wronged by some person, place or thing.

Dear Coffee Maker Manufacturers,

You CAN NOT - I repeat - CAN NOT send faulty coffee brewing equipment to the caffeinated-impaired. It is a cruel, cruel joke. Especially to those caffeinated-impaired who are 7 months pregnant and are throwing caution to the wind and giving the bird to the medical world's recommendation of 0.0002 ounces of caffeine a day. Send me a functioning machine or send nothing at all.

Yours Truly,

The Voice of the Caffeinated-Impaired

PS Yes there is a Starbucks a mile from my house so don't act like you've thought of something I haven't. I could easily caffenate myself if I wanted to but I think overreacting to your defective machine, complaining to everyone who will listen and walking around like a zombie for two weeks is a much more effective approach.